1997 Charitable Organization Survey
An Annual Questionnaire to Pennsylvania’s Non-Profit Organizations
I. TAX CREDITS
1.) Do you favor or oppose the idea of a 50% state tax credit for contributions made to charitable organizations which provide direct assistance to the poor?
FAVOR – 74%
OPPOSE – 13%
NO OPINION – 13%
2.) Do you think a 50% state tax credit for contributions made to charitable organizations which provide direct assistance to the poor would spur increased charitable giving?
YES – 73%
NO – 17%
NO OPINION – 10%
3.) Do you think a 50% state tax credit for contributions made to charitable organizations which provide direct assistance to the poor would promote competition and spur innovation in the provision of assistance to the underprivileged?
YES – 41%
NO – 35%
NO OPINION – 24%
4.) Do you think the cost of a 50% tax credit for contributions made to charitable organizations which provide direct assistance to the poor should be offset by a reduction in government spending, including spending on social welfare programs?
YES – 26%
NO – 61%
NO OPINION – 13%
5.) If a 50% tax credit for contributions made to charitable organizations which provide direct assistance to the poor were implemented, do you think a private sector accrediting agency (or agencies) should be established (or assigned) to monitor the financial integrity of organizations participating in the program?
YES – 48%
NO – 36%
NO OPINION – 16%
II. WELFARE REFORM
1.) Are you currently participating in welfare reform efforts in your community?
YES – 32%
NO – 65%
NO OPINION – 3%
26% – Job Training
16% – Child Care
15% – Health Care
13% – Food Subsidies
8% – Drug Rehabilitation
22% – Other
2.) Since welfare reform efforts have gotten underway, have you noticed an effect on your organization in terms of increased demand for services and/or a larger number of applicants?
YES – 30%
NO – 58%
NO OPINION – 12%
3.) Do you think additional federal government social service programs should be “devolved” or passed down to state and local governments as well as private non-profit organizations?
YES – 45%
NO – 35%
NO OPINION – 20%
III. VOLUNTEERISM
1.) Does your organization utilize volunteers?
YES – 90%
NO – 10%
If “YES,” how many volunteers are currently involved with your organization?
37 Under $25,000 annual budget
106 $25,000-$100,000 annual budget
70 $100,000-$500,000 annual budget
95 $500,000-$1 million annual budget
144 Over $1 million annual budget
*** Average of responses in each category
2.) Has this number increased or decreased over the past five years?
INCREASED – 42%
DECREASED – 18%
STAYED SAME – 40%
3.) On average, how many hours per week does the average volunteer invest in your organization?
89% 1 – 10 Hours
8% 10 – 20 Hours
3% Over 20 Hours
4.) How long does it take your organization to train your average volunteer?
41% – Less Than One Day
40% – One Day to One Week
19% – Over One Week
5.) How much does it cost your organization to train the average volunteer?
76% Under $100
20% $100 – $500
4% Over $500
6.) Have volunteer applications to your organization increased since the Presidential Summit in Philadelphia?
YES – 5%
NO – 95%
7.) Has the volunteer summit in Philadelphia had a favorable or adverse effect on your organization?
FAVORABLE – 11%
ADVERSE – 1%
NO EFFECT – 88%
IV. FUNDING ISSUES
1.) What is the dollar amount of your annual operating budget?
12% Under $25,000
21% $25,000 – $100,000
26% $100,000 – $500,000
9% $500,000 – $1 million
17% Over $1 million
15% No Answer
2.) What percent of your budget revenue comes from:
36.6% – Grants
17.5% – Membership Fees
35% – Earned Revenue
18.3% – Special Events
30.3% – Private Contributions
21.5% – Other
*** Average of responses in each category.
3.) What percentage of your organization’s budget is provided, either directly or indirectly, by government sources?
59% Less than 25%
13% 25% – 50%
14% 50% – 75%
14% 75% – 100%
4.) Has this percentage increased or decreased over the past five years?
INCREASED – 22%
DECREASED – 21%
STAYED SAME – 57%
5.) Do you expect this percentage to increase or decrease over the next five years?
INCREASE – 12%
DECREASE – 34%
STAY THE SAME – 54%
V. PERSONNEL ISSUES
1.) How many people are employed by your organization:
| Full-Time | Part Time | |
| 3 | 3 | $25,000 – $100,000 |
| 3 | 4 | $100,000 – $500,000 |
| 10 | 17 | $500,000 – $1 million |
| 113 | 84 | Over $1 million |
| 38 | 28 | Average in all categories |
*** Average of responses for each category.
2.) What percentage of your operating budget is spent on salaries?
48.2% Average of 195 respondents
3.) What was/will be the average percent salary increase in your organization during 1997?
3.7% Average of 160 respondents
4.) What is the planned average salary increase for your organization for 1998?
3.7% Average of 154 respondents
5.) What benefits are you providing?
154 – Health Insurance
91 – Life Insurance
92 – Retirement
89 – Dental
62 – Vision
(NOTE: Answers to question # 6 are provided in RAW numbers NOT percentages.)
6.) What percentage or your budget, in total, is currently being spent on activities such as lobbying, voter registration, public policy advocacy and public policy research?
3.6% Average of 30 organizations responding
VI. ORGANIZATIONAL/ADMINISTRATIVE
1.) Is your organization presently a member of any independent agency or body providing financial accountability?
YES – 35%
NO – 65%
2.) Does your organization currently obtain an annual audit from an independent auditor?
YES – 82%
NO – 18%
3.) Do you participate in fax server lists?
13% – Receive
1% – Send
11% – Both
75% – Do Not Participate
4.) Do you belong to a statewide association?
YES – 57%
NO – 43%
5.) Do you use organizational consultants and outside services?
If “YES,” do you use:
187 – Accounting
160 – Legal
35 – Strategic Planning
47 – Fundraising
54 – Technological
41 – Mail Services
19 – Public Relations Firm
8 – Lobbyists
6.) Which of the following does your organization have access to?
228 – IBM-Compatible Computers
44 – MacIntosh Computers
130 – Internet Access
152 – E-Mail
105 – Website
37 – News Groups
7.) Have you had any difficulty working with the U.S. Postal Service?
YES – 27%
NO – 73%
8.) Do you think the delivery of non-profit mail should be privatized?
YES – 16%
NO – 84%
9.) Do you budget money to attend conferences and/or training events?
YES – 78%
NO – 22%
10.) Do you think your organization is affected by legislative activity in Harrisburg?
YES – 87%
NO – 13%
11.) Do you think your organization is affected by legislative activity in Washington, D.C.
YES – 85%
NO – 15%
METHODOLOGY: The Lincoln Institute’s 1997 Charitable Organizations Survey was mailed to 4,000 registered non-profit charitable organizations on August 11, 1997. A total of 289 responses were received by the September 2, 1997 response cut-off date.
©Copyright 1997 the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc.
Permission to utilize information contained within this survey is granted provided the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc. is credited as the source
